We are the longest running community for amphibian enthusiasts on the Internet. Our primary goal is the sharing of information on the maintenance and breeding of newts and salamanders in captivity. We are also actively involved in fieldwork and funding conservation of endangered species.

Right now you are viewing our community as a guest. This gives you limited access to our forum and resources. For example, you can only view the first message in any conversation in our "Advanced Topics" section, and guests can view but not respond to "for sale" or "want" adverts. Join our free community and get full access, post questions, your own photo gallery, PM other members, your own fully customizable Blog and many special features. Registration is fast, simple and totally free so please, join today! Problem? Please contact us.

For feeding, I recommend chopped European nightcrawlers (earthworms). Crickets are fine as well, but worms are ideal. A good mix of both works fine.

My suggestion is to buy some nightcrawlers and culture them yourself, it's pretty easy! You can get a steady supply this way.

Now I'm biased because I love live moss and hate fake moss, but I suggest switching the substrate.

I keep Taricha and they actually prefer it quite dry compared to other terrestrial caudates. Too much of soil moisture could give them skin problems in the future. I suggest using a mix of clay soil, forest soil, and (oak) leaf litter. It should be somewhat moist but not wet.

Since you live in California, I bet you could find oak leaf litter fairly easily.

As for moss, real sphagnum won't do well in a dry tank. I suggest using native CA mosses that go through dry and wet cycles. This way, you can spray the tank to mimic rain for both the mosses and the newts.

As for getting bigger....it will take a LONG time. Like...a lonnnggggggg time.

Taricha have great personality, so I hope you enjoy yours for years to come!